Dover, Del. (Mar. 2, 2020) --- Delaware State cut a 12-point second half deficit to one, but couldn't get over the hump in a 79-73 MEAC men's basketball loss to Norfolk State in the Hornets' home finale Monday evening.
The Spartans have won six straight over DSU since 2016 to improve to 15-15 overall and 11-4 in the MEAC. The Hornets fell for the eighth time in the last nine games to stand at 4-25 and 3-12.
The loss also overshadowed another stellar performance by Delaware State junior guard Myles Carter, who posted a career scoring high for the second straight game. Carter came off the bench to tally a career-best 22 points on eight-for-11 shooting from the field, including five-of-five on three-point shots.
He has now reached double figures in scoring in eight straight and nine of the last 10 games. Carter was coming off a career-high 19-point performance in the Hornets' 84-63 win at Maryland-Eastern Score last Saturday. He has totaled 122 points during his stretch of consecutive double-figure scoring games, averaging 15.3 points during the span to raise his season average to 8.7 points per game.
Carter has hit nine of his last 10 three-point attempts, and is shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc for the season (23-for-54).
Delaware State never led in the contest and the score was only tied once (3-3) for a total of 15 seconds.
The Hornets shot just 36.4% in the first half (12-for-33), but only trailed 41-35 at the break.
Norfolk State scored the first six points of the second half on back-to-back three-point field goals, and opened up a 47-35 lead on a triple by Joe Bryant with 18:41 left to play.
The Spartans led 50-30 before the Hornets began to chip away at the deficit. DSU ran off the next 10 points, and pulled to within 50-48 on a bucket by Ronald Lucas at the 12:28 mark of the second half.
Norfolk State answered with a 5-0 run to open up a 55-48 lead.
The Spartans led 62-57 when Carter was fouled while drilling a three-point shot. After hitting the free throw, the Hornets only trailed 62-61 with 6:39 remaining in the game.
Carter pulled to Hornets close again when he knocked down his fifth three-pointer of the game to cut NSU's lead to 73-71 with 20 seconds left.
After Kyonze Chavis hit two free throws to give the Spartans a 75-71 lead with 18 seconds on the clock, the Hornets committed a turnover, which Norfolk State turned into a fast break basket to lead 77-71 with seven seconds left.
Norfolk State's Jermaine Bishop led all players with 24 points and also tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds.
Pinky Wiley added 16 points for the Hornets, highlighted by three three-point field goals. Wiley has also reached double-figures in scoring in eight straight games and has knocked down 13 three-pointers in the last three contests.
Delaware State outrebounded Norfolk State 41-39 and also committed two fewer turnovers (11 to 13) in the game.
The Hornets will close out the 2019-20 regular season this Thursday at Howard. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
The 2020 MEAC Tournament begins Tues. Mar 10 in Norfolk, Va.